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20 more overdoses in Clark County during 25-hour stretch this weekend

The Springfield Regional Medical Center has seen more than 480 overdose patients this year, according to hospital data. The majority of the overdoses are likely due to illicit fentanyl, according to health officials. CHRIS STEWART/STAFF

Posted: 3:32 p.m. Monday, April 17, 2017

SPRINGFIELD
—

Clark County saw 20 drug overdoses during a 25-hour stretch on Friday and Saturday, on the heels of 19 ODs a day earlier.

The second rash of overdoses came between 5 a.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday, according to Anita Biles, spokeswoman for the Clark County Combined Health District. The Ohio Department of Health alerted the health district to the outbreak over the weekend.

Local health officials believe illicit fentanyl to be the main drug causing the overdoses, Biles said, but it won’t be clear until toxicology reports come back in six to seven weeks.

Clark County law enforcement is working overtime to identify drug dealers, she said.

The Clark County Prosecutor’s Office has also established rules for local residents as part of the state’s 9-1-1 Good Samaritan Law, which provides immunity to people seeking medical assistance for a drug overdose, allowing them to report or seek help without charges.

Now law enforcement agencies will hand out a card to people who overdose outlining the Good Samaritan law — including a formal request that they must seek help within 30 days, Clark county Prosecutor Andy Wilson said. If they don’t seek treatment, the prosecutor’s office will pursue drug possession charges.

“They are putting small pieces into place so we can make a dent in this, but we need more money for treatment and that kind of stuff,” Biles said.

Agencies in Clark County — including first responders, public health, mental health and addiction services — have been communicating really well to hear each others’ needs, she said.

“The key is trying to get people who come into the ER to stay,” Biles said, “and then get them an assessment and get them into treatment. On a weekend, it’s harder to do that.”

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